Nearly 1/3 of all American citizens have an arrest record. That’s about the same number as those who have a college degree. If all the Americans with arrest records held hands, their combined arm span would circle the Earth three times. If everyone in America who has ever been arrested lived together, the resulting country would have three times as many residents as Australia.
The numbers don’t lie. There are a lot of Americans out there getting arrested. While not everyone who’s arrested has committed a serious crime or even a crime at all, there’s a ton of hard time being served right across the country. But then, what happens to convicted felons when they’re released?
Before we look at what happens to felons after they’re released from prison, we need to look at what happens to them long before they wind up in the prison system. Research shows that convicted felons are much more likely to have grown up in poverty, in areas with high unemployment rates, or single-parent families. If these conditions can be reduced or mitigated in more areas of the country, the conviction rate may fall.
Work After Prison
Unfortunately, unemployment among formerly incarcerated people is exceptionally high. The rate of unemployment among those with criminal convictions is nearly five times as high as the rest of the population. To put that into perspective, that’s more unemployment than the total unemployment during the Great Depression. Jobs For Felons also tend to pay less than other roles.
It’s convicted black women that have it hardest, with nearly half of all black female former prisoners unemployed. This statistic is all the more concerning when we consider how much more likely women are to be caregivers for children or other family members.
Understanding Barriers
There are many negative perceptions of unemployed former felons. The most prevalent is that they simply don’t want to find a job. However, studies have shown this to be largely untrue. There’s no difference between the general population and the formerly incarcerated when it comes to wanting a job.
Problems arise when employers find out about a potential new employee’s criminal record. They may claim willingness to hire people with records, but often fail to do so in practice. Given that steady employment, trust, and confidence help reduce the risk of re-offending, it’s clear that we need to do more to support employers and potential employees to navigate the perceived disadvantages of bringing in someone with a conviction.
Now, it’s essential to mention that the nature of the offense is a key consideration. Employers are responsible for the safety of their other employees, customers, and others who use their business. However, if there’s no danger, what’s the problem?
It’s actually proven that people who have served prison time are dedicated and diligent workers. They are even more determined to work hard and prove themselves than their colleagues.
Employers, take a chance. You never know, it might be the best move you ever make.